Method of and means for making dentures



Aug-8, 1939.. P. M. KYPRIE 2,168,530

METHOD OF AND MEANS .FOR MAKING DENTUBES Filed se g e, 19:58 s Sheets-sheet 1 Aug. 1 39.- i. M. KYPRIE'V 2,168,530

METHOD OF ANDMEANS FOR MAKING DENTURES Filed Sept. 6, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 P. M. KYPRIE 2,168,530

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR MAKING DENTURES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 8, 1939.

Filed Sept. 6, 193a W m k 3nventor Patented Aug. 8, 1939 PATENT" OFFICE METHOD or AND MEANS Foa MAKING DEN TUBES Prodromus M. Kyprie, Detroit, Mich. Application September 6, 1938, Serial No. 228,504

8 Claims.

This invention relates, in general, to a method of and means for making dentures and, in particular, to an improved method of and novel means for properly locating and forming in the l dentures the posterior teeth thereof.

Due to the two origins of lower jaw movement at the temporal fossae of theskull, which result in giving to the lower jaw, with respect to the upper jaw, a three-dimensional or ellipsoidal l movement, it has been impossible for dentists to make or obtain an accurate reproduction of this movement for enabling them to form and arrange a set of artificial teeth which will give proper articulation in the mouth -or, in other words, which will permit the patient to continue habitual masticating jaw movements.

Past inability to reproduce reasonably accurate records of the relative movements of the jaws has led in many cases to the formation 20 and arrangement of artificial posterior teeth in the plates which are merely occluded, that is, teeth which are adapted only for the opening and closing'movements of the jaws. In this condition or event the mandible in its movement 25- against the occluded plane of the'upper teeth encounters lack of freedom and harmony, the result being instability of the denture bases with accompanying soreness and occasional destruction of the'ridges on which the denture bases are 30 seated. This has brought about the complete destruction. of the eflicient and habitual mastieating movements of the jaws and the formation of the articulating surfaces, thereby causing the patient to lose all definite control of theslim? movements. If by, chance the dentist has succeeded, with his poor working records of and in any case, to produce a set of teeth which are articulatedio some extent, that extent is for the most part not sufficient to permit the teeth 40 to function as properly as the patient, through habit, has learned to enjoy. Also, the chances of obtaining reasonably accurate articulation are notoriously slim because each patient has a dif-.

ferent jaw movement the unknown record of 45 which in each case must be taken by an inaccurate method.

As soon as the natural teeth are extracted from the jaws every vestige. every trace, every nature of the relationships existing therebetween so are obliterated. For a short time thereafter the temporo-mandibular movement remains anato'mlcally, structurally and functionally unaltered. However, changes in this movement soon take place eith'er because of the lack of dentures it or because of faultily constructed dentures, and

the variations in this movement that do so take place must be treated and dealt with in their existing stage. In other words, it is the present temporo-mandibular movement which is to be treated and not the movement the patient had at any time in the past. To reproduce, record or re-establish the anatomical, functional and structural relationships of the tooth surfaces in occlusion and articulation, and also the relationship of the denture bases with each other to the yielding oi the tissues on which said bases are to be borne, such reproduction, recording or re-establishment must of necessity begin with an arbitrary standard or starting point which is, as is herein disclosed, 1 later corrected and made to'assume those salutary relationships sought and which comprise the basis for harmony of and freedom in jaw movement. Heretofore and in every case the standard or starting point has been arbitrary and the process of forming and positioning the artificial teeth of the dentures has been in every case arbitrarily carried on therefrom to the finished dentures, said process lacking the corrective steps disclosed herein and said denturesnecessarily and as a result being faultily made.

As has previously been said, the herein disclosed method of and apparatus for forming and positioning artificial teeth of dentures not only take into consideration the natural relationships of the tooth surfaces in articulation and occlusion but also take into consideration the relationship of the denture bases with each other to the yielding of the tissues on which said bases are to be borne. This yielding of the tissues 010- viously modifies or influences the respective posi.- tions of the planes of the teeth "and is, .therefore, apart of the function -or a factor to be determined. The positions and-planes of the teeth are also established bythis method and 40 apparatus without inducing strains or mal-functions of the ligaments and muscles that control the movements of the mandible. And, all of these various factors are determined because the method commences with an arbitrary a'rrangement which is selfcorrective, the result being harmony of function in all of the aforesaid structures when the corrections are completed.

Therefore, the main object ,of this invention is to provide a new and improved method of and means for forming and positioning posterior teeth of dentures more naturally and accurately than heretofore. s v Another object is to provide a new and improved method of and means for reproducing as records of the relative upper and lower. jaw movements which more closely' resemble said movements than heretofore and therefore enhance cuspidation and articulation and the continuance of the habitualmovernents of mastication.

Another object is to provide a new and improved method of and means for positioning posterior teeth of dentures and giving to said teeth their proper inclinations and cuspal heights and natures, whereby articulation is enhanced and the patient permitted to continue habitual movements of mastication.

Another object is to provide a new and improved method of and means for attaining the proper planes of inclination and cuspidation of posterior teeth of dentures by setting intomotion a line contact with the plane of the record sought for maintaining a harmonious relationship between the cuspal surfaces with the lower jaw movement during the reproduction of said record-of said lower jaw movement.

Another object is to provide a new and improved method of and means for obtaining records of the relative movements of the mandibles against not only the arbitrary planes of inclination established for the upper teeth but also and simultaneously against the true occlusal planes of the lower teeth, these records accurately reproducing the'three-dimensional movement of the lower mandible relative to the maxilla and to natural temporo-mandibular articulation.

Another object is to provide means for employment in the reproduction or the natural planes of the upper and lower teeth of dentures which enable the reproduction of the natural course outlined and described by the cuspal eminences of the teeth during the process of formation and positioning thereof.

Still another object is to provide means for use in forming dentures and forming and positioning the teeth thereof whereby the movements of the lower jaw can be more accurately reproduced than heretofore, the records of said reproductions enabling the finished teeth of the dentures to have proper planes of inclination and cuspidation and practically no interferences during masticating movements.

And still another object is to provide a linear cutting edge movable in accordance with the natural jaw movements across the occlusal planes and means for reproducing records of said movements.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from a reference to the following specification taken in conjunction wtih the accompanying drawings of which there are three (3) sheets and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of upper and lower dentures in closed position and representing an early-stage of the invented method;

Fig. 2 is a section taken along the lines 2-2 in Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the lower denture shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the dentures without their posterior metallic.

as having been removed and-the space lingual to the tools thereof filled with wax;

(Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 except that the metallic upper posterior teeth have been removed and the space buccal to the tools thereof filled with wax;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 except that 'the dentures of Fig. 8 are shown in place in an erly supported in the newly formed lower base plate;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the upper denture as having been replaced by the newly formed upper denture having accurately formed and positioned porcelain posteriors properly supported in the newly formed upper base plate;

Fig. 14 is a combined view of Figs. 12 and 13 and showing the newly formed lower denture of Fig. 12 and the newly formed upper denture of Fig. 13 in position in the articulator and ready for being processed in the ordinary and wellknown manner into finished dentures;

Fig. 15 is a detailed plan view of one of the metallic posterior teeth employed in" the novel process of properly forming and positioning the finished teeth of dentures and showing the cutting knife or tool in place with respect thereto;

Figs. 16 and 17 are detailed front and side elevational views, respectively, of the showing in Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a detailed plan view of the cutting knife or tool shown in Figs. 15, 16 and 17, and

Figs. 19 and 20 are detailed front and side elevational views, respectively, of the showing in Fig. 18.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 there is shown a pair of base plates iii and I! which are composed of any selected material and which are formed in the usualmanner and by application of ordinary dental skill. This same dental skill enables the establishment of the vertical opening, that is. the space occupied by teeth when same are in con-' tact, by use of the base plates i and i2 and the bite rims, that is, the known means employed for establishing the height between the jaws or mandibles. By using this knowledge and any other known and available knowledge the upper and lower anterior teeth H are properly positioned and set with respect to the plates ill and I2. Then, instead of using porcelain posterior teeth as is the custom, upper and lower metallic posterior teeth It and I8, respectively, are set up and positioned with respect to the base plates iii and i2, respectively, with the best available knowledge to the height of said base rims and to the occlusal plane, that is, the morsal surface of the teeth which is established when same are in contact. 1

Each of the metallic posterior teeth It in the upper base plate iii is formed with a longitudinal slot 20 which extends vertically through the tooth and has an upper linear configuration at the crown of the tooth on the lingual side thereof following the crest of the lingual cusp. Each of a manac the metallic posterior teeth I 8 in the lower base as to time of performance without departing plate i2 is also formed with a slot 22, slots 22 being 'imilar to slots 20 except that each has a confi ration at the crown of the tooth on the buccal side thereof following the .crest of the buccal cusp. In each of the slots 20 is removably fitted a cutting tool 24 having a head at one end adaptedfor being embedded in the plate l0 and a linear cutting edge at the other end lying flush with the crest of the lingual cusp and extending along the slot 26 thereat. Into each of the slots 22 is also fitted a cutting tool 26, similar to cutting tool 24, the head thereof being embedded in plate I2 and the linear cutting edge at the other end lying flushwith the crest of the buccal cusp and 7 extending along the slot 22 thereat. Details of one of these teeth l6 and I8 and of one of these tools 24 and 26 are clearly shown in Figs. 15 through 20, the tooth therein being labeled l6 and the tool being labeled 24, it being obvious.

that said elements could just as well have been labeled l8 and 26, respectively. At any rate, the details in said figures clearly show the configurations of thetool-receiving slot and of the cutting edge of the tool together with the co-relation therebetween. The convexities of the cutting edge of the tool to follow the cusp and the flush nature of said cutting edge with the cuspal crest should be particularly noted because of their importance.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show the base plates Ill and I2 vin closed position with the metallic posteriors I6 and I8 removed therefrom and the occlusal plane and vertical opening having been established by application of known methods. These figures show that the posterior teeth are removable from their cutting tools while leaving the latter empendent upon the anterior teeth I4 in either plate It! or i2, it being assumed that ordinary dental knowledge will enabl their initial proper formation, location and inclination, no further description will be given, therefore, relating thereto, said teeth being removed from said plates immediately following the positioning of the metallic teeth I 6 and I 8 in the above described manner.

After the metallic posterior teeth l6 and I8 have been set up in the baseplates l8 and l2 to the properly determined height of the bite rims in accordance with common dental knowledge, the lower metallic posterior teeth l8 are removed from the base plate l2, leaving embedded in said base plate the tools 26, as shown in Fig. 7. The spacelingual to the tools 26, and which was occupied by; the teeth'la. is then filled with a carvable wax 28. While the wax 28 is still soft, plates l0 and I2 are brought together into the position shown in Fig. 7 and any excess wax is readily removed from the plate Then, as shown in Fig. 8, the upper metallic posterior teeth l6 are removed from the base plate In, leaving embedded in said base plate the tools 24. The space buccal to the tools 24, and which was occupied by the teeth It, is then filled with a carvable wax 30. While the wax 30 is still soft and the wax28 substantially hardened, plates l0 and [2 are brought together into the position shown in Fig. 8 and any excess wax is readily removed from the plate l8.

The steps taken in'Figs. .7 and 8 can be reversedfrom the spirit of the invention, the step shown in Fig. 7 being described as taking place prior to the step shown in Fig. 8 purely and solely for the purpose of illustration. Also, the steps taken in Figs. 7 and 8 can be taken with the aid of an articulator, if desired, rather than depending upon the skill of the dentist and the nimbleness of his fingers and the pressure applied thereby, the construction and operation of said articulator being well known in the dental art.

From Fig.8 the wax plates 28 and 36 are placed in the articulator, generally and diagrammatical- 1y illustrated in Fig. 9 at,32, said articulator being of any well known construction and. set to the vertical opening already established. When in the articulator, the plates l6 and I2 are moved into the position shown in Fig. 9 by closing the articulator, and again any excess wax in the plates 28 and 38 is readily removed therefrom. It is desirable, after placing the lower base plate l2 in the articulator, to lubricate, for well known reasons, the upper surface of the wax plate 28. The articulator 32 includes'mechanism for swinging the plates l6 and I2 to and from a predeter mined and fixed position, said position representing the height of the bite rims already established.

'The articulator also includes pre-formed plaster casts 34 and 36 which have been formed in accordance with the foregoing pre-determined results and by the application of other and wellknown factors, said casts 34 and 36 supporting in proper relationship the plates i8 and I 2, respectively.

From the articulator 32 the base plates l0 and I2 are .placed into the patientsmouth, as shown in Fig. 10, and the patient is instructed to move the lower mandible in all of its habitual and physiological movements through the full range both laterally and vertically, it being understood that the lateral path of movement is complex and includes, generally, forward, sideward, up and down, and backward movements. Therefore, during such lateral movement of the lower mandible in a'gener'ally right hand direction, it will be noted in Fig. 10 that the upper tools24 in the right hand side of the upper base plate l6 carve the lingual cuspal formations in the right hand side of the lower wax plate 28, that the lower tools 26 in the right hand side of the lower base plate l2 carve the buccal cuspal formations in the right hand side of the upper waxplate 38, that the upper tools 24 in the left hand side of the upper base plate l0 carve the buccal cuspal formations in the left hand side of the lower wax plate 28, and that the lower tools 26 in the left hand side of the lower base plate l2 carve the lingual cuspal formations in the left hand side of the upper wax plate 38, these four carving operations taking place simultaneously during said movement of said mandible in said generally right hand direction. It will also be noted in Fig. 10 that, when the lower mandible is moved laterally in a, generally left hand direction, the upper tools 24 in the right hand side of the upper baseplatebaseplate l8 carve the lingual cuspal formations in the left hand side of the lower wax plate 28, and the lower tools 26 in the left hand side of the lower base plate l2 carve the buccal cuspal formations in the left hand side of the upper wax plate ll, these four carving operations taking place simultaneously during said movement of said mandible in said generally left hand direction.

From the foregoing described operations taking place in Fig. 10, it is seen that the-true records of the movements of the lower mandible with respect to the upper mandible are not mly taken against the arbitrary plane established for the upper teeth but also against the true' planes of the lower teeth. These records, which are the carved wax plates 28 and II in Pig. 10. not only establish the true planes of inclination for the upper teeth but also and simultaneously establish the occlusal planes of the lower teeth. when examined after their formation in Fig. 10, these records show a true reprodnctionof the threedimensional movement natural to the temporal mandibular articulation. In other words. not only are the inclinations of these planes given by the records 2! and II in Fig. 10, but there is also given the course that is described by the cuspal eminences as outlined by the cutting edges of the tools I! and It.

After the wax records 2" and l. have been carved in accordance with the description relating to Fig. 10, the plates II and i2 carryingsaid records are removed from the patients mouth, and the plate-record unit "-3., as shown in Fig. 12, is then replaced into the articulator 32 in the sameposition it occupied in Fig. 9. With the record II so in place and representing the true height and occlusal surface of the dentures desired, it is possible to select a proper number of porcelain posterior teeth 38 which are manufactured in the ordinary manner and universally coming properly occluded and articulated.

employed by dentists in denture work, set these teeth into a newly and arbitrarily formed. base plate I which is formed similarly to plate I2, and then grind the biting surfaces of said teeth SI and carve away the recessed portions of the gum surfaces of said plate I12 ,until the plate unit III-38 is capable of seating on the cast It of the closed articulator 32 in perfect occlusion and articulation with the upper unit ill-3O seat ing on the cast 34. The foregoing is the preferred method of establishing the lower denture in accordance with the upper record and is shown in Fig. 12, but it is possible, instead of employing and forming the new plate H2, to employ the old plate I! (without the record 28 thereon) and carve it into the form that plate H2 finally assumes and which form thereof is shown in said Then, as shown in Fig. 13, the plate unit i i 2-.

of Fig. 12 is removed from the cast 36 and replaced by the plate-record unit l2--2l of Fig. 10, and the plate-record unit Ill-30 is removed from the cast 34. Porcelain posterior teeth 4!, which are similar to the teeth It before the latter .were round in the step shown in Fig. 12, are selected and then built into a newly and arbitrarily formed base plate H! which is formed similarly to plate II. The biting surfaces of the teeth Ill and the recessed gum surface of the plate i I II are then ground and carved until the articulator 32 can be closed with the teeth and the record 28 be- The foregoing is the desired method of forming the upper denture, but it could be modified. For instance, instead of forming the new plate i ill, the

' old plate I. could be employed and formed into the form finally assumed by plate III in Fig. 13,

u :in which event the record It will have been rea,rss,sao

moved therefrom. Also, though error might enter into the process, the final upper denture I "-40 of Fig. 13 could be formed in accordance with the final-lower denture I lI-Sl of Fig. 12 rather than in. accordance, as shown, with the plate-record unit iI-Il. 4

Then, having set and ground the porcelain posteriors a in the carved lower base plate 2 to the upper wax record ll, as shown in Fig. 12, and having set and ground the porcelain posteriors II in the carved upper base plate ill to the lower wax record 20, as shown in Fig. 13, said carved plates Ill and ill with their respective ground porcelain posteriors 4| and 3. established thereon are re-inserted into the articulator 32, the articulator being then closed and the teeth II and ll being brought into contact and finally set with respect to each other and to their base plates according to the best dental skill and knowledge.

After the steps have been taken in Fig. 14, the ordinary dental operator is well acquainted with the necessary steps to be taken for finally processing the plates land ill, with their teeth ll and II, into finished dentures. so sameiwill not be mentioned herein.

In brief, the herein described method embodies coordinating the artificial elements of the dentures, that is, the bases and the tooth planes or surfaces, with respect to the functions of the existing, individual, natural and physiological structures. As the method proceeds, these functions are performed in situ through the use of a mechanical unit actuated or motivated by the living structures, the result becoming one of concerted, consonant and harmonious relationship as similar and true as the relationship which is governed by the bio-chemical entities in normal dental arches created by nature. The interrelationship between the elements concerned in other desired results (when the natural teeth have been lost or destroyed) is re-created in toto by the method herein detailed, said method also determining this inter-relationship in various stages with regard to the influence and inter-play between the elements concerned. The position and condition of the bases and the teeth attached thereon receive their being from and inexorably follow a dictated course which emanates from the nature, extent, habits, abnormalities and peculiarities of the individual temporo-mandibular movement and the reaction of tissues supporting the bases. And, a record of this movement and reaction is obtained, interpreted and used because all the structures concerned are made to take part in the production of said record.

Although the invention has been described with some detail it is not intended that such description be definitive of the limits of the inventive idea. The right is reserved to make such changes as will come within the purview of the attached claims.

What I claim is:

1. The method of making dentures which includes, approximately establishing the relationship between the upper and lower mandibles in their normal closed position, approximately setting the posterior teeth of the upper and lower dentures in accordance with this relationship, providing the posterior teeth of one of the dentures with a cuspal carving'edge and replacing the posterior teeth of the other denture with a carvable material, and setting the dentures ii motion according to habitual mandibular movements for causing the carving edge to carve a record on the carvable material of and in accordance with said mandibular movements.

2. The method of making dentures which includes, approximately establishing the relationship between the upper and lower mandibles in their normal closed position, approximately setting the posterior teeth of the upper and lower dentures inaccordance with this relationship, providing the lingual cuspal formations of the posterior teeth of the upper denture with acarving edge, replacing the posterior teeth of the lower denture with a carvable material, and moving the dentures according to habitual mandibular movements for causing the carving edge to carve and reproduce a record of and in accordance with said mandibular movements on the carvabie material.

3. The method of making dentures which includes, approximately establishing the relationship between the upper and lower mandibles in their normal closed position, approximately setting the posterior teeth of the upper and lower dentures in accordance with this relationship, providing the buccal cuspal formations of the posterior teeth of the lower denture with a carving edge, replacing the posterior teeth of the upper denture with a carvable material, and moving the dentures according to habitual mandibular movements for causing the carving edge to carve and reproduce a record of and in accordance with said mandibular movements on the carvable material. g

4. The method of making dentures which includes, approximately establishing the relationship between the upper and lower mandibles in their normal closed position, approximately setting the posterior teeth of the upper and lower dentures in accordance with this relationship, providing the lingual cuspal formations of the posterior teeth of the upper denture and the buccal cuspal formations of the posterior teeth of the lower denture with linear cutting edges, maintaining these cutting edges and replacing the upper posterior teeth with cai'vable material buccal to the lingual cutting edges thereat and the lower posterior teeth with carvable material lingual to the buccal cutting edges thereat, and setting into-motion the dentures according to habitual mandibular movements for carving records on the upper and lower carvable materials by the lower and upper cutting edges of said mandibular movements.

5. A trial tooth for use in the manufacture of a. denture comprising, a tooth body having a cuspal formation, a slot through said body at said cuspal formation, and a cutting tool removably disposed in said slot and terminating at said cuspal formation.

6. A trial tooth for use in the manufacture of a denture comprising, a tooth body having a cuspal formation, a slot extending substantially vertical- 1y through said body from along said cuspal for-' mation, and a cutting tool freely mounted in said slot and terminating at said cuspal formation.

7. A trial tooth for use in the manufacture of a denture comprising, a tooth body having a cuspal formation, a slot extending through said body and along the contour of said cuspal formation, and a tool disposed in said slot and having a cutting edge flush with said cuspal formation,

said tool and said body being readily separable from each other.

8. A trial tooth for use in the manufacture of a denture comprising", a tooth body having a cuspal formation, a slot extending through said body and along the contour of said cuspal formation, and a tool disposed in said slot and having a cutting edge at one end flush with said cuspal for mation and a base at the other end for being embedded in the denture, said body being readily separable from said tool while the latter is so 0 embedded in the denture.

v PRODROMUS M. KYPRIE. 

